I change the station again.
“And between the two of us,” Dante says to him, “we can get the door out of the way.”
Nitro grins into the rearview mirror. “Right on.”
“Exactly,” Jeremy says. “And if Draven can use his woo-woo memory power on the guards, then we’ll be in.”
I look at Draven, who is now on the phone, facing the window and completely absorbed in his conversation.
Honestly, I’m not worried about everyone else following through on their roles. I’m worried about using this power that, until a few hours ago, I didn’t even know that I had. They’ve had their entire lives to learn how to control and manipulate their powers. I’ve had an hour.
Fiddling with a radio is one thing. Anything to do with the most advanced security system in the world is another, way more terrifying thing.
“How do I shut down the force field?” I ask. “What if I accidentally send the entire facility into lockdown?”
“Yeah, don’t do that,” Jeremy says, but he hurries to explain before I can punch him in the arm. “We’ll do it together, merging our powers.”
I shake my head in a mix of awe and confusion. Rebel tried to explain once what merging powers feels like, but it didn’t seem like anything I’d ever understand. Now, I’m about to experience it myself.
“My power,” Jeremy explains, “will guide yours.”
I nod. I close my eyes, trying to make myself believe.
I can do this, right? I’m a smart girl. I’m focused, and I have serious motivation to get this right.
I’m not sure I believe it though. Panic sets in. So many people are depending on me. Without my power to take out the force field, we’re done before we even get in. I don’t want to mess this up.
A warm, strong hand closes over mine. Draven. I open my eyes, and he’s twisted around in his seat to face me.
“You can do this,” he says with no hint of doubt.
“How do you know?” I whisper. “What if I can’t?”
He gestures at Jeremy. “Switch with me.”
Jeremy opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but he takes one look at my face and shoves everything but the laptop into his backpack. He climbs forward while Draven climbs back.
When Draven is settled into the seat next to me, he tugs me close against his side.
“You are the bravest person I’ve ever known,” he tells me, quiet enough that no one else in the car can hear him over Nitro’s beats, but forceful enough that I have no choice but to believe him. “You’ve never hesitated to take on each and every one of us when you thought we were in the wrong, even when you had no power.”
I give him a wry smile. “I was immune,” I remind him. “You couldn’t hurt me.”
“Our powers couldn’t,” he agrees. “But we could have. You thought we were villains who wouldn’t hesitate to kill an innocent like you, and still you stood up to us.”
I shrug and shake my head. Now he’s making me blush.
“You don’t let anything get in your way, Kenna,” he says. “Powerless or powerful, there is no one I would rather have coming to my rescue.”
“I—” I flick a glance at the rest of the team, but everyone is absorbed in their own preparations. “I’m scared.”
“Good.” He squeezes my hand. “You should be. We all should be. Are you going to let the fear stop you?”
As if that’s even a possibility. “No.”
“Then you’ll do whatever has to be done. And so will I.”
I rest my head on his shoulder. As the SUV eats up the miles between us and the bunker, my nerves gradually fade. Draven is right. He has been since this thing began. He’s one of the smartest guys I know—also one of the best. The mark under his ear may claim him as a villain, yet from the moment I met him, he’s been nothing but a good guy. Dark, broody, and a little dangerous, but still a good guy. No matter what happens, I know I can count on him.
I want him to be able to say the same thing about me. Especially now that the tables are turned. I reach into my pocket and pull out an elastic band. The last thing I need is my hair getting in the way while we’re in battle.
Because as much as I don’t want to think of it that way, we really are going to war. It’s us against an enemy that outnumbers us both in manpower and technology. If ever there was a day to root for the underdog…. And the whole plan depends on me.
I have to succeed. There is no other option. I have to, and so I will.
We all will.
Chapter 26
From the hill overlooking the entrance to the bunker, you’d think it’s an overprotected root cellar with a really big door. There isn’t even a paved road in. Just the door, the fence, and a small team of guards.
Gaining access looks easy, but I know it won’t be.
And once we get inside, it will only get worse.
“Guys, come on,” Riley whines. “I can help. I can fly, you know.”